Even Arteta admitted to being worried when the foul was committed. It would have changed the balance of the game, and by the time Oliver Skipp fouled Bukayo Saka for what was a clear second yellow for the Leicester midfielder, and an Arsenal free-kick in a central position, one suspected the Calafiori decision was playing on Barrott’s mind. He played a bad advantage and when play broke down he declined to go back and give Skipp the second yellow card he deserved. That appeared to be the best recompense he could offer Leicester.
Amid all the excitement there was a thrilling cameo from Ethan Nwaneri, the 17-year-old Arsenal midfielder whose first touch was a run cutting from right to left and a shot that forced Hermansen to reach full stretch to save. Arteta could also call on Raheem Sterling in those final moments and yet Leicester were very close to getting there. Trossard’s second goal, Arsenal’s third, took a big deflection off Wilfred Ndidi who had been excellent in midfield.
It had looked bleak for Leicester when Gabriel Martinelli scored the first, after Saliba had won that contested challenge with Jamie Vardy. The ball had come right via Saka to Jurrien Timber before being cut back to Martinelli. Leicester barely emerged from their own half after that, right up until the break and when Trossard turned in Martinelli’s cross in the first minute of time added on it seemed to be over. Arsenal would go on to have 36 shots, and 16 on target.
Leicester scored almost immediately after half-time with Bounanotte’s free-kick headed goalwards by Justin and having clipped Kai Havertz on the way in. Even after that Leicester were under pressure but Justin’s second goal, hit from Ndidi’s cross was remarkable. Another 30 tense minutes passed before Trossard would get the third and Hermansen would be called upon many more times. The fourth came from Havertz as the game broke down at 3-2 and Leicester threw everything in pursuit of an equaliser.
